Courtney Mueller joins Adam Simmons on #LateNightGeo to review the latest trends in geospatial news, projects, and buzz.

In this episode of The Mappiest Hour, Tee and Silas welcome David Bitner, a Minneapolis-based developer with a deep history in the open-source geospatial community. David traces his path from studying rocks and trees at the University of Minnesota to becoming a key figure in the MapServer project and eventually landing at DevSeed. The trio discusses the challenges of managing real-time data at scale, from tracking airport queues to measuring global air quality with OpenAQ. David also shares his experiences navigating the "wild west" of early GIS consulting, the evolution of database management from "it works if you don't touch it" to robust cloud infrastructure, and why sometimes the best solution is still a good old-fashioned MapServer instance behind an AWS Lambda. Tune in for a conversation that spans the gamut from skijoring with dogs to the existential dread of server maintenance, all wrapped in a healthy dose of Midwest pragmatism.

In this season premiere of The Mappiest Hour, Tee and Silas return after a 19-month hiatus to unpack the wild ride that was 2020. The duo catches up on major life changes, including cross-country moves, new jobs at Verisk and Kinetic Eye, and navigating the new normal of remote work with kids and cats in tow. They discuss the profound impact of the pandemic on the geospatial industry, from the rise of dashboards and real-time data to the sudden ubiquity of "flattening the curve." With candid reflections on surviving lockdown, the evolution of their careers, and why "leveling up" is the theme for 2021, this episode sets the stage for a new season of exploring the ever-changing world of maps, tech, and the people who make them.